Peter Houston admits Falkirk fans are right to boo after Championship start – but insists he does not fear for his job

PETER HOUSTON admits the Falkirk fans are right to boo him and his side right now – but he insists he does not fear for his job.

The Bairns currently sit joint bottom of the Championship after five games without a win, with Saturday’s 1-1 draw away to part-timers Brechin City being met with a chorus of jeers.

Houston acknowledges the start to the league season has been nowhere good enough and claims he would join in the supporters’ heckles if he was in the stand with them.

However, after finishing second in the last two campaigns, the former Dundee United manager believes he and his backroom team deserve the time to turn things around – and he is convinced the Westfield board feel the same.

The 59-year-old, who has vowed to quit if he does not win promotion next year, said: “I’m not anxious or panicking in any way, because I believe in the players, but I can understand the fans’ point of view.

“I would have been booing as well after that second-half at Brechin. I accept criticism and take it when it’s merited – and over the last few weeks it’s been merited.

“It’s up to me and the players and the backroom staff to sort that out, and I think we deserve time to sort it out.

“I have no fear for my position. I don’t even sense any directors panicking, because they see what the club has changed into in the last three years – challenging for promotion from a very tough league, getting into the Scottish Cup final.

ROCKY

“So, without even getting told, I feel I’ve got 100 per cent backing from [chair] Margaret [Lang] and the board, because we talk regularly.

“And I think that’s right, if I’m being honest.

“We’re going through a rocky stage, at this particular time, and it’s the first rocky spell in over three years since I came in.

“We take it on board, we accept the criticism, the fans have every single right to not be happy, because if I was sitting in the stands alongside them I wouldn’t be happy either – and I’m not trying to patronise anybody.

“They just need to continue to help us and I hope they do, and I’m sure they will.”